Start the year with a bang by traveling with CNET to Las Vegas, where our editors will be on the hunt for the defining tech products of 2026. CES is the flashiest tech show of the year and is set to inject some much-needed excitement into the January gloom.
Stick with us as we showcase the best across all key product categories, from TVs to laptops, and hopefully ignite your imagination with fun and future-facing concepts that give you a glimpse into what your next favorite gadget might look like.
What is CES?
CES is one of the largest and most significant tech trade shows in the world. It's attended by all the big, established tech companies, as well as many up-and-coming companies from across the globe.
Samsung will be bringing its largest-ever CES showcase to this year's convention, and Lenovo is taking over the Las Vegas Sphere for its keynote, which, if it manages to rival Delta's event at the venue last year, should be quite a show. Another event we're pumped for is the Sony Honda Mobility Exhibit, where the two companies will unveil the pre-production Afeela 1 EV, due to go on sale in California in 2026.
Together with press, investors and business leaders, these companies and others will gather in the conference halls and hotel suites of Las Vegas to show off their newest innovations and set the agenda for the year. CES 2025 drew over 140,000 people, 40% of whom came from outside of the US, which should give you a solid idea of the enormity and importance of this show.
Some of the products and ideas we'll see at the show are concepts that tease next-generation developments in technology. Other devices will go on sale during or shortly after the show -- and we'll be sure to tell the early adopters among you exactly what they are.
What are the key dates?
The official dates for CES 2026 are Jan. 6 to 9, but CNET will arrive in town a few days before for an early look and exclusive press-only previews before the show doors even open. Some side events are scheduled as early as Jan. 3.
Jan. 5 will be the first major day of the show for us, as we attend back-to-back press conferences, where the biggest names in tech unveil their latest products and devices to the world.
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